The Biggest Career Crashes Of 2017: The Year Of Sexual Misconduct

Kevin Spacey is among those whose careers have been derailed this year by allegations of sexual misconduct. (Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images)

This year’s list of careers that have been destroyed or have endured considerable damage is overwhelmingly made up of figures who have been brought down by sexual misconduct. So much so that two names that should be on any roster of the year’s career train wrecks have been edged out: Pharma billionaire John Kapoor and Uber’s Travis Kalanick managed to professionally hobble themselves while keeping their pants on.

This isn’t a definitive list of all the powerful personalities felled this year by allegations of sexual impropriety, not by a long shot. But the roster, arranged in alphabetical order, paints a vivid picture of how far-reaching the movement to come to terms with this kind of misconduct has become.

A giant of the food world, Batali found himself shrunk to size by allegations of harassment and sexual impropriety spanning decades. The former Iron Chef was forced to step away from his restaurant management firm, Batali and Bastianich Hospitality Group, and fired from a role on the ABC cooking show, “The Chew.” The Food Network has put the brakes on a deal that would have resuscitated “Molto Mario,” the cooking program that Batali hosted from 1997 to 2005. And although he attempted to appear contrite, his public apology—in which he admitted to “wrong” behavior—included a recipe for cinnamon rolls.

Dishonorable Mention: Sexual msideeds also severely damaged the career and reputation of New Orleans restaurateur John Besh. In October, Besh resigned from the company he founded, Besh Restaurant Group, after more than two dozen female employees filed harassment complaints, some against the boss himself. And Ken Friedman, owner of the popular Spotted Pig and other New York eateries, has been accused by 10 women working at his restaurants of creating an intimidating culture of sexual harassment.

Louis C.K.

A celebrated veteran of the comedy scene, with revenue from several television programs, multiple Emmy Awards and a movie in the works, Louis C.K. was riding high as one of the world’s highest-paid comedians. He fell to earth dramatically when five women came forward in November to accuse him of sexual misconduct. C.K. owned up to improprieties, and in the aftermath was cut loose by FX Networks and FX Productions, the companies that produced his programs. The release of his upcoming film, “I Love You, Daddy”—which had been slated to open the same month that the allegations surfaced—was abruptly canceled.

John Conyers

The longest-serving African-American member of the House of Representatives, John Conyers, announced in early December that he would resign amid allegations of sexual harassment. Conyers, 88, denies the accusations that he propositioned female House staffers for sex and carried on affairs with other women outside the workplace. He confirmed, however, that in 2015 he settled a wrongful dismissal complaint made by a former employee who felt she had been fired because she refused his advances.

Al Franken

Minnesota Senator Al Franken stepped down in December amid allegations of sexual advances and groping. Franken, who assumed office in 2009, first came under fire after a 2006 photo emerged of him with his hands reaching to touch a woman’s breasts. He came under pressure to resign from members of his party after several other women subsequently came forward to accuse the Senator of unwanted touching and inappropriate behavior. The one-time comedian and former “Saturday Night Live” writer’s Senate seat will be filled in January by Minnesota's Democratic lieutenant governor, Tina Smith.

Sen. Al Franken will be officially replaced in early January. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Garrison Keillor

Author, humorist and radio personality Garrison Keillor saw his career come unceremoniously to an end in November following multiple allegations of inappropriate behavior with a coworker. Minnesota Public Radio severed ties with Keillor, halting distribution and broadcast of his programs (including reruns involving him) and changing the name of “A Prairie Home Companion,” the popular radio show he both created and, until 2016, hosted.

Dishonorable Mention: National Public Radio news chief Michael Oreskes resigned in November following sexual harassment accusations. Two women, according to a Washington Post story, said Oreskes made sexual advances while discussing career opportunities with them while he was a New York Times bureau chief in the 1990s.

Alex Kozinski

Federal Judge Alex Kozinski served on the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for 32 years before resigning his lifetime appointment in December following allegations he engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior over the course of decades. At least 15 women came forward to accuse the judge of behavior including making sexual comments, unwanted kissing, hugging and groping.

Matt Lauer

After more than 20 years on NBC’s “Today” show, Lauer was fired after an NBC employee came forward to accuse the television personality of sexual assault. Several other women subsequently emerged with allegations of sexual harassment. Lauer issued an apology, but said some of the allegations were “untrue or mischaracterized.”

Matt Lauer in 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for for The Rolling Stones)

James Levine

Longtime Metropolitan Opera conductor Levine was suspended in December after several men came forward with allegations that Levine had sexually abused them in their youth. The Met says it had fielded questions about Levine’s behavior twice previously—once in 1979 and again last year. Several musical festivals and orchestras with which Levine has worked have also severed ties with him.

Dishonorable Mention: New York City Ballet leader Peter Martins is under investigation stemming from both allegations of sexual harassment made via anonymous letter and accusations of physical abuse made by five dancers who have worked with him.

Roy Moore

Moore, the former chief justice of Alabama, stood a very good chance at winning a seat in the U.S. Senate, but a devastating series of sexual allegations from his past came back to cripple him politically. Prior to the special election to fill the Alabama Senate seat left vacant by Jeff Sessions, news broke of multiple instances in which Moore, then in his 30s, inappropriately pursued young girls. Despite financial backing from the GOP and the endorsement of President Trump, Moore lost the race by more than 20,000 votes.

Fox News host Bill O’Reilly was forced to resign in April following revelations that he’d settled a handful of sexual harassment complaints and an internal investigation at Fox unearthed additional reports of inappropriate behavior. The news prompted more than 50 advertisers to cut ties with O’Reilly’s program. O’Reilly has said the allegations against him are untrue.

Brett Ratner

Film producer and director Brett Ratner has enjoyed more than a few hits throughout his career—“The Revenant,” “War Dogs,” the “Rush Hour” films—but recent allegations of sexual misconduct have overshadowed his achievements. A November Los Angeles Times article detailed accusations of sexual harassment and assault from six women, including well-known actresses. Another five women subsequently came forward to describe similar behavior. Although Ratner has denied the allegations, Warner Brothers has declined to renew a production contract with his company, RatPac Entertainment, and his whiskey brand, Hilhaven Lodge, has been discontinued by the liquor company Diageo, which had partnered with him.

Charlie Rose

Television host Charlie Rose was fired by CBS in November after eight women came forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct, alleging that Rose made lewd phone calls, exposed himself, and groped them. Rose was one of the hosts of "CBS This Morning" and a former contributor to “60 Minutes.” PBS announced it would cease distribution of Rose’s interview show, and Bloomberg TV said it would no longer rebroadcast the program.

Russell Simmons

An impresario of hip-hop, fashion and media, Russell Simmons’s reach was powerful and his reputation pristine. But recent allegations of sexual misconduct have wreaked havoc with his career and spurred the New York Police Department to open an investigation into him. Simmons has been accused of rape, harassment and assault by several women, with some instances dating back to the 1980s. Although Simmons denies any nonconsensual encounters, he has stepped down from his companies and issued an apology.

Kevin Spacey

Until recently, Spacey had the kind of Hollywood panache that commanded respect from film viewers and esteem from his colleagues in the industry. But all that has fallen away in the face of allegations made by more than a dozen men since October who have accused the actor of sexual harassment and assault; some of the men were only in their teens when the alleged incidents took place. In addition, more than 20 complaints against Spacey were found to have been filed between 1995 and 2013 at London’s Old Vic Theatre, where he appeared in a number of plays and served as artistic director.

Netflix has ended its ties to Spacey, and the final season of its popular series “House of Cards” will not feature his character. A newly released film, “All the Money in the World,” was stripped of every frame depicting Spacey, with Christopher Plummer reshooting his scenes.

Harvey Weinstein

When the first accusations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein came to light in October, it set into motion a cascading series of revelations, a national conversation about sexual misconduct, and the movement now known as #MeToo. After women—some well-known, some not—made allegations against Weinstein that ranged from harassment and emotional abuse to assault and rape, victims of similar behavior in other industries began to come forward, with new allegations against other men surfacing one after the other. The combined voices of so many women—along with some men—speaking out about their own experiences with harassment and assault has created a furor about the issue of sexual misconduct of all kinds. Weinstein has been fired from the company he co-founded, expelled from numerous film and production organizations (including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) and has seen his once enormous sway and reputation reduced to tatters.

Harvey Weinstein in 2016. (Photo by Dennis Van Tine/STAR MAX)

Runners-Up

Hamilton Fish, president and publisher of The New Republic: Resigned following allegations of inappropriate conduct with coworkers.

Blake Farenthold, U.S. Representative for Texas: Will not seek reelection following allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior from former staff.

Trent Franks, U.S. Representative for Arizona: Resigned following sexual harassment allegations from two former staffers.